Pokémon Go is a popular augmented reality game for mobile devices that has recently been causing distracted driving accidents throughout the country. Unfortunately, it seems that many drivers are willing to put others at risk by splitting their attention between the road and their cell phone.

If you were hit by someone who was playing the game while driving, you should speak with a Salt Lake City Pokémon Go accident lawyer from Craig Swapp & Associates about your rights and the legal options available to you. You could receive compensation for any injuries and related expenses you have suffered, including your medical care, physical therapy, lost wages, property damage, and more.

 

What Is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon Go is an app that is typically played on a smartphone, but it can also be played in some Wi-Fi-enabled cars and trucks. The game overlays digital elements such as creatures called “Pokémon” onto the real world through the use of a mobile device’s camera and screen. The objective is to go everywhere that the Pokémon are in order to capture them.

By combining virtual reality with the world around you, this augmented reality game encourages people to play everywhere they go. Sadly, some app-users take this too far and play while behind the wheel.

 

Why Pokémon Go Is a Distracted Driving Nightmare

Pokémon could be anywhere: in your driveway, on the freeway, in the parking lot of a grocery store, in your neighbors’ yard, or even hiding in the bushes on the side of the street.

Many gamers play while driving because it gives them the opportunity to capture Pokémon at a faster rate than if they only played while walking or visiting specific destinations.

There is simply no safe way for someone to play Pokémon Go while driving. This dangerous combination has now led to numerous distracted driving accidents. As app-users must focus on the game to see where the monsters are located, they then fail to focus on their driving and surroundings.

 

How to Tell if You Were Hit by a Distracted Driver

If you were hit by someone exhibiting erratic driving behavior leading up to the crash, there is a possibility that you were hit by someone playing Pokémon Go. Common signs include the following:

  • Swerving all over the road
  • Suddenly stopping
  • Pulling over but not actually leaving the road
  • A driver exiting his or her vehicle with cell phone in hand

If you suspect that you were hit by someone playing Pokémon Go, we will likely have them answer questions under oath during a pretrial deposition. As your Salt Lake City Pokémon Go accident lawyer, we will do everything possible to prove that the other driver was driving distracted and therefore at fault for your accident.

 

Your Legal Options

If you were in a car accident because another driver was playing Pokémon Go, you have the right to sue for financial damages. You will need to file suit before the statute of limitations runs out, which in Utah is three years for property damage and four years for personal injury.

When filing a lawsuit, you can seek money to pay for all accident-related damages:

  • Current and future medical bills
  • Cost of physical therapy and rehabilitative services
  • Lost wages and income due to time off work
  • Cost of repairing your vehicle
  • Transportation expenses
  • Pain and suffering

 

You Deserve Compensation

To start the legal process, call us at 1-800-404-9000 or complete our contact form below. Speak with an injury attorney from Craig Swapp & Associates and find out what your car accident claim could be worth today.